A Lexical and Phonological Variation in Logooli, Lutirichi and Lumundu: a Socialinguistics Variationist Approach

Abstract

This study investigated lexical and phonological variation in spoken Logooli, Lutirichi and Lumundu languages spoken in the Western part of Kenya. It also investigated reasons for the Lumundu dialect leaning more towards Logooli than Lutirichi and the entrenchment of Lumundu dialect in the area of study. The study was guided by Sali Tagliamonte (2012) Sociolinguistic Variationist theory which basically accounted for the variation in words and sounds in the three dialects. The Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT) was important in the establishment of the entrenchment of Lumundu variety in the area of research. A combination of both qualitative and quantitative research design was adapted for this study. The area of study was Hamisi and Gavudunyi areas in Vihiga County. The respondents were interviewed. Questionnaires were administered to the respondents who could read and write. Focused group discussions, on the other hand, was employed for informants who were found in groups, like women at water points and motorcycle riders. Participatory observation was also employed by interacting with the native Logooli, Lutirichi and Lumundu speakers. The data collected was sorted, coded and analyzed. The results were presented in tables, figures, and percentages. The findings of the study showed that there is variation in some words used by the speakers of these dialects. The variation that was noted was that for some words, each dialect had its own word for a given referent while for others words had while for others words had a sound or sounds causing variation in the languages. It was further observed that there is a tendency of the Lumundu dialect leaning more towards Logooli than Lutirichi. The study established that one of the reasons for this was the Maragooli people were more economically and socially well of than the Tiriki people. The Logooli dialect has an orthographic representation and has been recognized in written and electronic media. It also was observed that both age and gender played a major role in the lexical and phonological variation in spoken Logooli, Lumundu and Lutirichi. This conclusion was arrived at when analysis was done basing on language use in various domains. The young people avoided the language spoken by the elderly people, hence played a major role in modification of the words in Logooli and Lutirichi and the growth of the Lumundu variety. Women were observed to be contributing to the phonological variation and the growth of Lumundu because they could pick easily the language their children spoke.